Household cookery

Bring in the food covered, and do not taste the food in the presence of the invalid. Be punctual in serving the food ; do not mention it, nor ask what the patient will have, and when. Never allow food to stand uncovered in a sick-room. Serve everything as daintily as possible. A nice clean tray-cloth and a few flowers add considerably to the pleasure and enjoyment of the meal. It also helps to cheer and brighten the patient. Beef Tea I lb. lean beet. J pint cold water. Method, — Choose lean, juicy beef, shred or scrape it across the grain. Put it into a cup or jar, add the water, and stir well. Cover with lightly greased paper, put into a pan of cold water, bring slowly to simmering point, and simmer gently for \ hour. Strain and season. Remove any grease from the top with a piece of soft paper. Note. — In cases of fever no salt must be added. G Barley Water oz. barley. i pint water. Juice of ^ lemon. Sugar. Method, — Wash the barley well, put in a pan with the cold water ; boil 2 or 3 minutes, then strain. Put back the barley in pan with i pint of cold water, and boil about \ hour. Strain, add lemon-juice, and sweeten to taste. If wanted for babies, boil till thick, add a little milk and sugar. Gruel 2 table-spoonfuls oatmeal. Sugar. I pint boiling water. Salt. Method, — Mix meal in a bowl with a little cold water ; pour over it the pint of boiling water, allow it to stand 30 minutes, stirring several times. Pour water from the bowl into a pan, allowing very little of the meal to escape. Boil 10 or 15 minutes. Strain, sweeten and flavour according to taste. A small piece of butter and a little milk is a great improvement. Mutton Broth 1 lb. lean mutton. i pint of cold water. 2 table-spoonfuls boiled rice. A little flour. Method, — Chop i lb. lean, juicy mutton very finely, and pour over it i pint of cold water. Let it stand till the water is very red, then heat it very slowly and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Strain, season, and add 2 table-spoonfuls softboiled rice ; thicken slightly with flour mixed with a little cold water. Minced Chop Mutton chop. 2 table-spoonfuls water. Pepper and salt. \ tea-spoonful ketchup. I oz. bread-crumbs. Method, — Shred the chop, put it in a pan with breadcrumbs, water, pepper, salt, and ketchup. Simmer 10 minutes and serve on toast. SICK' ROOM COOKERY Egg Flip I fresh egg. i table-spoonful water, milk, or sherry. Method, — Break the egg into the cup, add water, milk, or sherry, and beat well together till quite light and frothy. Strain into a glass and serve. If liked, a little sugar may be beaten with the egg. Invalid Custard 1 fresh egg. i tea-spoonful sugar. \ pint milk. Small piece of butter. Method, — Beat egg with sugar, add milk, strain into a buttered cup, cover with an ungreased paper. Place in a saucepan of boiling water, not allowing water to come more than halfway up the cup. Put lid on the pan, set by the fire till custard feels firm in the centre. (The water in the pan must not boil again, or the custard will curdle.) Remove from pan, let it stand a few minutes to shrink, then turn out. Raw-beef Sandwiches 2 oz. lean beef. Some thin slices of bread and butter.